Valuev, Ruiz warm up for rematch
Nikolai Valuev and John Ruiz would not stop staring at each other when they posed for the photographers following today´s press conference in Berlin. After two long minutes, they were finally separated by Wilfried Sauerland and Don King. “I think we will be seeing a very exciting fight on Saturday,” Sauerland predicted.
Both fighters are brimming with confidence ahead of their rematch. “I feel like I won the first fight,” Ruiz said. “I am here in Germany to get the belt back. I have worked very hard in practice with my coach. I am in great shape and I will show that on Saturday.” His trainer, Manny Siaca Sr., was also confident of success. “On Saturday the two best heavyweight boxers will meet in the ring. But this time the ending will be different from their last meeting. You will see that John Ruiz will be world champion again.”
The Russian Giant, however, has different plans. “It would take too long to describe all the things I have changed (in my game),” he stated. “I have prepared very hard and very long. I am in very good shape. I want to win!” Wilfried Sauerland warned everyone not to underestimate the 36-year-old former champion. “I saw Samuel Peter´s fight against Jameel McCline. Peter went down three times. But then McCline clearly lost to Ruiz on points.”
Don King also praised Ruiz´ performance against McCline. “John did a great job,” the US promoter stated. “He is here to win. He will be in great shape. All eyes will be on Berlin. We can expect a great fight.”
Unbeaten ranked Braimah Kamoko added to “KnockOut Poverty” All-African Pro Boxing Show .
Albert-Duran Headlines Tuesday night, Sept. 23 at Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City
NEW YORK CITY – Unbeaten African light heavyweight sensation Braimah Kamoka, aka Bukom Banku, has been added to the September 23rd KnockOut Poverty” pro boxing card, presented by Bob Duffy’s Ring Promotions, at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.
Kamoka, rated No. 6 by the WBC, will be fighting for the first time as a pro outside of his native Ghana. He is the reigning African Boxing Union champion who will take on Sudan fighter Abdullah Ramadam (15-8, 9), former IBF Interim light heavyweight title challenger, in the 10-round co-feature bout.
Two-time Nigerian Olympian and former IBA Continental light middleweight title-holder Eromosele “Bad Boy” Albert (21-2, 10 KOs), now fighting out of Miami, faces Ghana-native Ossie Duran (23-6-1, 9 KOs), former Commonwealth light middleweight and welterweight champion, in the 12-round main event for the vacant IBF Continental African light middleweight title.
“KnockOut Poverty” is a landmark event to help fight poverty in Africa. Grammy Award-winning, UN Goodwill Ambassador Youssou N’Dour and friends are among the many stars scheduled for the historic evening of entertainment, music and boxing. N’Dour and other musical legends are scheduled to perform between fights with proceeds from the event going to the All For Africa charitable organization.
Two-time world title challenger, light heavyweight Jaffa “The African Assassin” Ballagou (45-6, 39 KOs), from Togo, battles multiple World Muay Thai champion Manu Ntoh (17-14-1, 10 KOs), from Cameroon, in an eight-round bout. Another bout is being made to fill-out the card.
For ticket and sponsorship information call 212.351.0111 or go online to www.allforafrica.org .
David Price reflects on Beijing experience
Olympic super-heavyweight bronze medallist David Price described his time at this summer’s Games in Beijing as ‘a wonderful experience’ but admits he was not at the top of his game for his semi-final bout against Roberto Cammarelle.
In an interview with Setanta Sports News during Steve Bunce’s Boxing Hour Price said he was unable to put a ‘finger on what went wrong’.
“I think he lulled me into a false sense of security with his two previous performances. I was overly confident of going into the ring and doing a job on him.
“I probably underestimated him. I definitely underestimated his punching power and his hand speed. His hand speed is terrific. He was beating me to every punch.
“I was disappointed with that performance. But to come away with a medal after all that was brilliant.”
Team GB’s boxing coach sets the record straight
Great Britain's Olympic boxing coach Terry Edwards told Setanta Sports News he was in a ‘no win’ situation however well his boxers performed in Beijing this summer.
Edwards' team of boxers were dogged by controversy before a single punch had been thrown. Frankie Gavin was unable to compete at the Games having failed to make his target weight, while Billy Joe Saunders faced allegations of lewd behaviour.
In an interview on Steve Bunce's Boxing Hour Edwards explained that Gavin's health and safety was his main priority.
"There was an American boxer who failed to come to the weigh in [before the Games]. When they found him he was actually unconscious on the floor through dehydration. Now, Frankie was starting to dry out [to lose weight] three days before the weigh-in. That could well have happened.
"The criticism that he should have competed in a different weight doesn't hold water. It's no secret that since the World Championships Frankie had struggled with the weight. It was just impossible for him.
"He wanted to give it another try and two days before we left I gave him that opportunity. I left a coach behind with him; he had a physiologist, a nutritionist and a sports psychologist with him. And then I took the decision that I wasn't prepared to take a risk with Frankie's health.
"I've heard all sorts of rumours; that he was on drugs, that he was on this and he was on that. Whichever way it went I would have been criticised. Had he made the weight he would have been dead on the weight and he would have been beaten in his first bout. It was lose, lose, lose."
Edwards also questioned the manner in which the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) suspended Billy Joe Saunders following an incident at a training camp in France. Edwards had confronted Saunders about the incident and asked the ABA for further information. When the information was not forthcoming Edwards thought that was the end.
"If there's an inquiry into a boxer for breach of discipline, that's fine. It's the timing that this happened. To be fair it could have happened today instead.
"I'm not suggesting that David Price or Tony Jeffries actually lost because of it, but to be honest it affected me and the team. The accusations and the rubbish that was written in the newspaper article, some of it was nearly three years old. It was blown out of proportion."
